Thread: Pushing crank baits

basically spider rigging them out of the front of the boat.

Pulling crankbaits....you use no weights and you run at 1.6 to 1.8 mph and control your depth by length of line out useing this chart

Pushing crankbaits you run same speed as above but control your depth with a 3 oz. weight three ft. ahead of the crankbait useing this chart

Pushing allows you to fish any size crankbait......and make tighter turns. I usually pull 6 rods off back of the boat and push 4 off the front in lakes where that many rods is allowed. On smaller lakes....more confined areas etc. I push only because of tighter turning ability without getting lines tangled up.

What are the best crank baits to use? Any size perefence? Type of bill on the them?

WEll....since you asked....I prefer Arkie 350 series for pulling and pushing.....and the Arkie 220 series for pushing. You can get them for best price at Grizzly Jig....Grizzly Jig Company

Originally Posted by Jdnelson07

What are the best crank baits to use? Any size perefence? Type of bill on the them?

Your choice :

Bandit crankbaits
Rebel crankbaits
Arkie crankbaits
C55 blanks spray painted
Lindy Shadling crankbaits
Rapala Shadrap crankbaits
Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap lipless crankbaits
Johnson, BPS, & Strike King also have Crappie series crankbaits

Weights generally range between 1/4oz & 1/2oz .... with the 3/8oz size being the most popular, overall (Bandit 300 series are 3/8oz in weight, for comparison)
Bill type (for those with bills) are usually the "deep diving" type ... as they can be used to longline pull or to push (with weight on the line, above the crank).

Have you crank bait guys had more success with the crank baits over longlining jigs? I could see the more action of the cranks could get some reaction strikes.That trolling/ depth chart is very nice. I wish other lure makers would have a spread sheet like that..I can remember years back some company made a book,the trollers bible and it had many many different lures and depths listed..I think mostly bigger crankbaits for walleye,salmon and striper.